New fire brigade strike dates have been announced over the May Day bank holiday weekend.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) are set to take action on Friday between noon and 5pm, on Saturday, May 3, between 2pm and 2am, and on Sunday, May 4, between 10am and 3pm.

The union is in a national dispute with the Government over changes to firefighters’ pensions and working arrangements.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service says contingency arrangements have been made during the strike periods, but is calling for people to take extra care.

Chief fire officer Andy Fry said: “We are urging people to be exceptionally careful during the forthcoming strike action.

“As with previous periods of strike action, we will still be answering and responding to 999 calls, although we will be prioritising ‘life critical’ incidents, such as house fires and road traffic collisions where people are trapped.”

He is recommending households make sure they have smoke alarms fitted on every level of the house, take extra care when cooking – including barbecues – do not overload electrical sockets and make sure cigarettes are properly extinguished.

Members of the public are also being asked to only call 999 in genuine emergencies.